Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Penn= 

 sylvania for Session 1897=98. 



THE Botanical Society of Pennsylvania was instituted on 

 October lo, 1897, at the University of Pennsylvania, 

 when arrangements were made and a program drawn 

 up for the first general meeting to be held on October 23, 



October 2j, iSgj. The opening meeting of the Botanical 

 Society of Pennsylvania was held in Biological Hall at 4.30 

 p. m. A reception was given by Provost and Mrs. Harrison 

 from 3 to 4.30 p. m., when the invited guests inspected a large 

 variety of botanical preparations, models and objects under 

 the microscope. Provost Harrison called the meeting to order 

 and stated that the time seemed now to be ripe for the organi- 

 zation of a botanical society, which would bring together 

 botanists and plant growers in and around Philadelphia. The 

 great interest already manifested in the growth of the Botanic 

 Garden had encouraged its promoters to believe that a closer 

 bond of sympathy could be established between the University 

 and botanical workers than had hitherto existed. He then 

 called upon Professor Macfarlane, head of the Botanical 

 Department and Director of the Botanic Garden, to explain 

 the aims of the society. 



Dr. Macfarlane stated that, in the closing years of the last 

 century and in the early decades of the present century, Phila- 

 delphia was regarded as the home of American botany. Such 

 men as the Bartrams, Michaux, Rafinesque, Barton, Darling- 

 ton and other celebrated names gave it a lustre unequaled by 

 any other city in the Union. Meehan's more recent work had 

 earned for him the thanks of the present generation. To con- 

 tinue the traditions thus worthily established, would be the 



(III) 



